Treatment for SNHL consists of hearing aids and accessory devices. Hearing aid use is dependent on the individual's motivation to wear them consistently and it is estimated that only 29% of all adults with aidable hearing loss wear hearing aids (Kochkin 2008 survey).
Unfortunately, there are few treatment options that have shown effectiveness for tinnitus. Managing stress levels and improving sleep patterns are important, as both of these can exacerbate tinnitus. Hearing aid use has been known to suppress tinnitus while they are being worn. Oftentimes, a hearing aid can be fit with a "masker" which can generate tones to suppress or cover the perceived tinnitus. Antidepressants, anxiolytics, and other neurotropic medications are used to help treat tinnitus. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the only treatment option shown to be effective in decreasing tinnitus annoyance but not the perceived sound intensity (Hyung J, 2013).